What: Hidden Valley Preschool
Where: 606 Valley Drive, Duluth
Business: This all-day kindergarten prep school launches in September to prepare children ages 3 to 5 for kindergarten. Like the school year, it will run from September though May with a full curriculum including science, math, reading, social awareness, art, music, computer time, as well as playtime.
Founded: 2010
Owner: Missy Winkler
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Former job: Preschool teacher, director of Twin Ports Gymnastics, high school math tutor.
Market: Parents who want all-day preschool for their children, avoiding the hassles of transporting children between day care and preschool. "This is all in one," Winkler says.
Employees: Two licensed early childhood teachers
Hours: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., September though May
Maximum enrollment: 10 pre-schoolers
Cost: $650 per month per child
Of special note: The lower level of Winkler's home has been converted into the preschool, with activity rooms and a mini-gym. It's more intimate than preschools in institutional settings, Winkler says.
The school, which will emphasize organic treats, has been certified as an Eco-Healthy Child Care program, which indicates a safe, healthy environment for children free of toxins.
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For more information: Go to www.hiddenvalleypreschool.org or call (218) 590-1220. Registration is under way for next school year. An open house for prospective students and their parents will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday.
